By Rabindra Nath Sinha
KOLKATA: Is the leadership of the Kuki-Zos, who inhabit the Hills of Manipur, trying to gauze the views of different sections of their communities as a prelude to formulating a new strategy ? Is it a quest of the Kuki-Zo top brass to see that intra-community unity emerges stronger than now and that the state government and New Delhi take serious note of their persisting concerns and demands? These questions have lately come to the fore as the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), an umbrella outfit, has begun a public consultation exercise by which KZC is seeking the opinion of their community people on “sensitive and pressing issues arising from the ongoing [ethnic] conflict with the majoritarian Meitei community”.
KZC held the first exercise on July 29 at Kangpokpi, which district is one of the four districts where the Kuki-Zos have a dominating presence. The other three districts are Churachandpur, Pherzawl and Tengnoupal. The districts where the Kuki-Zos live in relatively small numbers are Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong. A KZC statement issued after the meeting at Kangpokpi noted that there was enthusiastic participation by a large number of people in the intense deliberations which lasted three hours and concluded with adoption of “important resolutions”. The resolutions will not be brought in public domain right now as the intention is to broaden the consultative process. KZC firmly believes that “critical decisions must reflect the collective voice of the entire Kuki-Zo community”.
So, the Kangpokpi initiative is to be followed with public consultations in other places where the Kuki-Zos numerically matter and a mechanism may be devised to gather the opinion of the community people in places where they are in minority. The views and opinions will form the basis for a comprehensive, consolidated resolution which will be shared with the public.
The plan suggests the top leadership is eager to see that whatever be the situation at a given point in time, Kuki-Zos must firmly back all decisions of the KZC executive for realizing the community’s demands within a timeframe that is to be set in advance.
The top brass, on their part, is to make sure that each and every Kuki-Zo tribe is respected, given their due place and position in all spheres – social, churches, NGOs and development projects launched by the government. The church is an influential factor in the Kuki-Zo community, given the fact that their population is overwhelmingly Christian. Also, taking cognizance of the fact that people in general have harbour some doubts and suspicions about the two warring sides, involvement of churches, intellectuals and scholars has to be ensured in the interest of transparency whenever critical moves are made. This assessment derives from talks IPA has had with a cross-section of Manipur politics watchers.
The all important question, therefore, is which issue is prompting the leadership to solidly unite the community’s people? Obviously, the demand for a separate administration in the format of a UT with legislature under Article 239 of the Constitution. A version occasionally in circulation in this regard is that New Delhi was apprised in the latter part of 2023 by those who matter in the community’s several organizations about the old Kukiland Movement in the late 1940s. So, the authorities should consider their current demand for a UT status for the Hills with legislature against the backdrop of that movement which to them has “historical value”.
But, for the Union government, the dilemma stems from the fact that the Valley-based majoritarian Meiteis have consistently argued for retaining the integrated format as it has been obtaining over the years. Also, the Centre is aware of their stand, articulated several times by former chief minister N Biren Singh, himself a prominent Meitei, that large numbers of Kukis in Manipur are illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh and many of them have been indulging in clandestine activity, including opium farming, in connivance with sections of the officials.
The Kuki-Zos not only have discounted these contentions of the Meiteis but also charged the Meitei-dominated Manipur administration with pursuing discriminatory policies against them. In any case, these are known stances and Amit Shah-led home ministry continues its efforts for reconciliation without any trace of a breakthrough so far. More meetings are under consideration, it is learnt.
In the immediate context, a new issue that may be on the table for KZC’s public consultation exercise is the likelihood of the Election Commission ordering a special intensive revision (SIR) of Manipur’s electoral rolls, on the model of its drive in Bihar, which remains a bone of contention between EC / BJP-led Centre and the Opposition. In Manipur, then the illegal immigrant issue will come under renewed focus and generate fresh controversy. (IPA Service)
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